November 14, 2012

Jersey Boys First Natl Tour Outstanding at Overture Center!

November 14th, 2012

The JERSEY BOYS first national tour company is playing Madison, Wisconsin through November 25! Check out snapshots from the critics’ praises:

Philip Balistriere, The Badger Herald: The musical, penned in part by University of Wisconsin alum Marshall Brickman and based on the career of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons, brought depth and reality to what could have easily been just a string of hits. By the time the first of what felt like hundreds of F-bombs dropped, it became clear the show was more than just fluff: The show’s writers were willing to risk an appalled audience to honestly portray four guys from Jersey, potty mouths and all.

Lindsay Christian, 77 Square: Nick Cosgrove, this national tour’s Frankie, whose falsetto has rougher edges, shown to powerful effect on the ballad “My Eyes Adored You” and “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You.” Energetic and committed, he handles the demands of the show impressively well, especially on more rock-inflected numbers like “Beggin’.”

Sharing the spotlight is the likeable John Gardiner as Tommy DeVito, who takes Frankie under his brotherly wing and helps launch both their careers.

Baby-faced Miles Jacoby plays the awkward boy genius Bob Gaudio, and Adam Zelasko fills in as the even-keeled bassist Nick Massi. (It is a credit to Des McAnuff’s direction and the tour staff that this substitution is seamless.)

Jennifer A. Smith, The Daily Page: The biggest draw here is the exceptional voice of lead performer Nick Cosgrove as Frank Valli. Whether you care for the mannered, nasal falsetto style of Valli or not, Cosgrove’s voice is an impressive instrument whose power doesn’t flag during the show’s 33 songs. Miles Jacoby as Bob Gaudio also possesses a very fine voice, with a mellowness that offsets Cosgrove’s piercing falsetto. The show is at its best when delivering just what the audience wants: full-throttle recreations of the group’s biggest hits.

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